[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
(Do you like this place in Lan Kwai Fong?) Yes, I love it very much, because Lan Kwai Fong is more of a way of life.
I know everything here, I've seen it change for 35 years, just like Hong Kong has been changing, China has been changing, that's why I love it so much, it's exciting.
[Explanation] "Changing" and "change" are words frequently mentioned by Sheng Zhiwen, a Jewish Hong Konger, in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency.
He has been in Hong Kong for half his life, and he bluntly said that he has personally participated in and witnessed the changes in Hong Kong.
In the 1980s, due to his unique vision, he turned a dirty and messy "garbage street" in Central into a legendary experience of "the first street of nightclubs in Asia". Sheng Zhiwen was dubbed the title of "Father of Lan Kwai Fong". , has won thousands of fans.
Born in Germany in 1950, and moved to Canada with his mother, Sheng Zhiwen showed his business acumen when he was young.
When he was 19 years old, his clothing company sent him to Hong Kong to discuss business. It was the first time he set foot on this unfamiliar land.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
When I came to Hong Kong (for the first time), it was still British colonial rule.
But when I came to Hong Kong by plane, it was like landing on the moon.
For me, the biggest difficulty is the language, not Cantonese, but British English, because they speak with a heavy accent, which is different from my hometown.
But it was fun, I fell in love with Hong Kong from the moment I was there.
If you have an idea at night and wake up the next day, you can turn that idea into reality.
[Explanation] This land full of opportunities and dreams deeply attracted this young man who dared to try, so Sheng Zhiwen quit his job in Canada and came to Hong Kong alone with more than 1 million Canadian dollars he had accumulated.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
Under British colonial rule at the time, Hong Kong was a very different place.
And there are not many restaurants on the street now than then.
Most good restaurants are owned by hotels, and under the British system, when you go to a hotel, you need to be very formal.
They usually give you a jacket and a tie if you don't have one.
But our style in fashion, we don't wear suits and ties, designers and fashion people, we're cool.
I need a place to entertain my buyers and designers because we don't want to be in suits like the British.
Hong Kong is such a cosmopolitan city, why can't we have a place like Lan Kwai Fong.
[Explanation] To create a bar street that truly belongs to Hong Kong, people of different classes can gather together to drink and chat without having to wear suits and leather shoes.
As soon as the idea came out, Sheng Zhiwen immediately put it into action. He walked the streets and alleys in Hong Kong, looking for land everywhere.
Finally, a dingy, dilapidated narrow alley in Central just off Queen's Road caught his attention.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
Lan Kwai Fong was only one block away from Queen's Road at that time. It was the heart of the Central Business District. It was on a hillside, where there were many small flower shops and many warehouses.
This area is charming, I see things not as they are, but as they can be.
I saw the potential in the area and I slowly started buying some properties in the area and slowly redevelopment.
Most people don't know what I'm doing.
But I have a plan and I'm going to turn this into a really nice place.
[Explanation] In 1980, Sheng Zhiwen opened the first restaurant integrating dining and bar in Lan Kwai Fong, and the business was extremely hot after opening.
He has since built his own bar, restaurant and nightclub by acquiring street-facing apartments.
Under his management, Lan Kwai Fong has gradually become the most popular leisure and entertainment street in Hong Kong, creating a diverse culture and bringing huge economic benefits to Hong Kong.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
I was in Shenzhen and Deng Xiaoping said it would become a special economic zone.
I thought it was incredible at the time, it was all farmland and farms, how could it be possible?
Today you go to Shenzhen, it is one of the best cities in the world.
China has really changed a lot, and I am part of the change, and I have witnessed history.
[Explanation] In 2008, Sheng Zhiwen made a major decision: to give up Canadian citizenship and apply for Chinese citizenship.
As soon as the news came out, there was an uproar in public opinion.
However, having lived in Hong Kong for many years, he has his own perseverance and determination.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
I'm really local, this is my home, my family is here, my kids are growing up here, everyone is here.
I think this is the best place in the world.
So I told myself, I think I want to be a Chinese.
The Canadian government thinks this is crazy, they kept my passport for 8 months, are you sure what you're doing?
Are you sure?
I said yes, I trust China.
I know China will develop very, very well, and China is the future.
I am sure that I made the right decision.
[Commentary] In Sheng Zhiwen's eyes, Hong Kong has truly revealed its own unique charm since its return to China 25 years ago, and has exerted its unique advantages on the international stage.
He believes that in the future, the "Pearl of the Orient" will attract more people from all over the world to settle and develop here.
[Concurrent] "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen
China has its own system, Hong Kong has "one country, two systems", but the advantage of Hong Kong is judicial independence.
Many countries in the world have common law, so they feel comfortable in Hong Kong.
China does not need another mainland city, but an international city with a very strong stock market that is respected by the world.
In the future, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will also change the situation in Hong Kong.
So it's a revolution, and you're talking about 84 million people, including within a 1.5-hour drive radius from Hong Kong.
People from all over the world came to Hong Kong one after another.
We have international schools, education, all that, and it's very, very important that Hong Kong is a safe place.
It's one of the safest places in the world, which is why we all love Hong Kong.
Reporter Fan Siyi and Luo Siyu report from Hong Kong
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]